Rakaputra Paputungan News

What did our critic think of MAR at ArtSwara?

Grease was first staged in 1971, with music, lyrics, and a book by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. It had its debut on Broadway in 1972 until it was eventually adapted into a movie starring John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John in 1978. This play and its consequent movie were a cultural icon, with songs that persist through time and are deeply rooted in modern pop culture. And for the first time, in 2025, it was performed in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The musical Mirah was staged on 22-23 February 2025, at Teater Besar Taman Ismail Marzuki in Jakarta. The production house presented four performances, featuring two different pairs of main leads, with each duo performing twice. This show was produced by Ir. Dery Syrna, directed by Rudolf Puspa and Dolfry Inda Suri. The team from Broadway World Indonesia was given the opportunity to watch their last show on February 23rd, and here’s our review.

I had my first experience of watching Nick Payne’s Constellations on the National Theatre website. The production I watched was produced by DONMAR, directed by Michael Longhurst, and performed by Peter Capaldi and Zoë Wanamaker. Although the stage was empty, the use of colour and empty space enhanced by the blue and white balloons surrounding them made the play feel spectacularly otherworldly. I was instantly in love.

Just recently, Jakarta Art House hosted its latest stage production, Catch Me If You Can the Musical. This was an adaptation of the 2002 movie of the same name starring Leonardo DiCaprio, following the same storyline: the alleged true story of Frank Abagnale Jr., a convicted felon who committed plenty of frauds at his young age and has now reformed as a security consultant. 

The community theater Jakarta Players has announced their 2024 production: Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol by Tim Mula. The show is an adaptation that offers a fresh take on the timeless story of redemption and the spirit of Christmas.

What did our critic think of THE JUNGLE BOOK IN BALLET at TEATER BESAR?

What did our critic think of 2AM at TEATER BESAROn August 24th 2024, LSPR Institute’s Performing Arts Communication Batch 25 “Waka Waka Production” brought 2AM: The Musical to the stage of TIM’s Teater Besar. Directed by Amelia Angeliqa with the assistance of Excel Yeremia, bringing forth four main characters, six supporting ones, ten ensemble members, and 15 original songs, they delivered 2AM for their final 6th-semester assignment for the subject ‘Plan & Production Management’.

What did our critic think of SILVER'S TOUR: THE MUSICAL at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta?

On August 16th, 2024, in collaboration with Tiga Dua Satu and Indonesia Kaya, Jakarta Movin performed the media preview of the musical Interaksi (“Interaction”), adapted from the lyrics of the most-streamed musician of Indonesia, Tulus. Directed by the founder of Jakarta Movin, Interaksi brought forth a powerful performance that provoked laughter through its interaction with the audience.

What did our critic think of ZEVENTIEN at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta?

What did our critic think of CERITA BEDA HAK SAMA 2 at Gedung Wayang Orang Bharata?

What did our critic think of SESAK at Svatuhari? Teater Svatuhari’s latest work, SESAK ran for three shows on December 2nd and 3rd at Gedung Kesenian Miss Tjitjih. This original show is written by Rizky Bayuputra and Sashi Kirana, produced by Gitta Indreswari, and directed by Rinaldy Zulkarnain. SESAK (meaning “Hardness to Breathe” in Indonesian) tells a story about pollution and activism.

Jason Robert Brown’s award-winning musical tragedy THE LAST FIVE YEARS got a new interpretation for the quarantine era by JPAC and SHOEMAKER STUDIO. With picture-perfect performances and a directorial approach that preserves and elevates the soul of theater through a filming lens, the production is one not to miss.

The year 2021 is here, bringing a new, though cautious, hope after the arduous 2020 which saw a global pandemic putting a stop to most performing arts activities. We caught up with several Indonesian musical communities and companies as they looked back at the previous year and shared their plans for 2021.

A new and original musical tackling on the subject of sexual abuse, Musikal Belakang Panggung, had completed its 4-show run on March 8th at the Institut Français d'Indonésie. The show was created in collaboration with Lentera Sintas Indonesia, an NGO with the mission to empower sexual abuse survivors.

We asked our staff and critics around the country what their favorite films are - if you're in need of something to watch, check out some of their suggestions below!

Though theatre seasons around the country were cut short, we wanted to celebrate the theatre that our critics did get to see before things shut down. We asked them for their favorite show they saw this season. Check out their replies below!

Stephen Sondheim's cerebral, minimalist COMPANY might not be an obvious choice for a community theater here in Indonesia where musicals are still often seen as jazz-hands and kicklines, but director Fonnyta Amran and JPAC (Jakarta Performing Arts Community) made it work. The production of COMPANY was as game-changing as its original Broadway counterpart back in the day.

As part of their 50th anniversary celebration, the community theatre JAKARTA PLAYERS (JP) is producing LONGING FOR LOVE, a presentation of five one-act plays. The show will take place on May 24-26 at Institut Francais d'Indonesie, Thamrin, Jakarta.